Wine Geek Recommended

Meet the CoolVines Wine Geek!
He’ll guide you toward – or away from! – wines that have a
unique flavor profile: intentionally oxidized wines, earthy, stinky wines,
wines with a bit of fritz on the tongue. Look for him throughout our web
site, and on the shelves in our stores, to point the way toward these geeky wines.

A blend of 2/3 fresh grape must (50% Chardonnay & 50% Savagnin) with 1/3 marc-brandy (aged for 7 years in casks), then matured for 3 years in old barrels. Fresh and well-balanced, it makes for an intriguing aperitif or dessert wine. Pair with fruit tarts.

Located in the heart of the Jura vineyards, the Arlay Castle produces a "Great vintage" of the guaranteed vintage "Côtes du Jura".

In effect, this estate was created by the Counts of Chalon-Arlay, Princes of Orange, as early as the High Medieval Period at the foot of their powerful fortress. Later on, it became the Royal Vineyard of England, then of Spain and finally of France. Some authors have even written that Arlay was the oldest Vineyard Castle of France.

It was in 1960 that the Count R. de Laguiche undertook to create a well-known company. He set to shape a vast estate on the family land, where five fine vine varieties were planted: Pinot Noir, Trousseau, Poulsard, Chardonnay and Savagnin. In opposite to the local practice, he gave priority to finding more demand in far away markets. To-day, the estate has an area of approximately 74 acres, with some experimental wine-growing loop parcels. And the reputation of Château d'Arlay wines is well known over the five continents.

Located between Burgundy and Switzerland, this cool climate wine region produces wines with some grapes in common with Burgundy, and some that are native to the Jura. It's a tiny wine growing region with huge personality, a bit under 9 square miles. Jura wines are distinctive, unusual but appealing.

Perhaps the most renowned is Vin Jaune, made in a similar process to Sherry, developing under a flor-like strain of yeast and made from one of their local grapes, Savagnin. Jura Cremant is an approachable champagne-method sparkling wine, tending toward the crisp and fruity, sometimes with toasty maple notes. The sweet Vin de Paille of the region is made from dried Chardonnay, Savagnin and Poulsard grapes, which may develop a touch of noble rot as they shrivel before fermentation.

Many of the wines you'll find here tend to possess slightly oxidative qualities, the reds light and tart and the whites intense and rich. Color designations like Ruby and Coral add to the standard white, red and rose, owing to the not uncommon vinification of red and white grapes together.

Along with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, native varieties Savagnin, Poulsard/Ploussard and Trousseau round out the Jura spectrum.

Sweet

Fortified

These wines have grape spirits added back to increase their alcohol content and intensify their flavors. Find Port, Sherry, Madeira and others here. Light to full-bodied, dry to sweet, red, white and tawny.